A few months ago, my family and I traveled to Morocco for the hilulah of Rabbi Yitzchak Abuchatzeira on י״ד שבט. We flew with Iberia Airlines from JFK in New York to Madrid, Spain, and were scheduled to continue from there to Marrakesh. However, our connecting flight was unexpectedly canceled, and Iberia rebooked us on a different airline: Air Arabia Maroc.
When we boarded the new flight and took our seats, we quickly noticed that nearly everyone on the plane was Arab, and the airline was clearly an Arabic airline. Naturally, we were nervous. The situation was unfamiliar, and once the doors were closed, switching flights was no longer an option. We stayed on board, quietly davening and hoping b’ezrat Hashem we’d arrive safely.
Then something remarkable happened.
Before takeoff, the pilot spoke over the plane’s intercom for several minutes. As Moroccans, we understood Arabic, and were surprised to realize he was reciting an extended version of Tefilat HaDerech, thanking G-d for the miracle of air travel, asking Him to protect the passengers and crew, and to safeguard our families back home until we return to them in peace and health.
When we landed safely, I approached the pilot with my son and thanked him for reciting Tefilat HaDerech. His response left a deep impression on me. He thanked us for acknowledging it and said, “This is standard for me—and for our airline. Every pilot here says this prayer before every flight.”
We parted ways and headed into the terminal. But his words stayed with me.
And I couldn’t stop thinking: If an Arab airline—representing a religion we do not share—can publicly acknowledge G-d and ask for His protection before every flight, why can’t El Al do the same?
El Al is not just an airline. It represents the State of Israel, the Jewish people, and is often filled with religious passengers who themselves quietly recite Tefilas HaDerech as the plane begins to taxi. But why should it be silent? Why can’t a Jewish pilot—or a flight attendant, or even a recording—recite Tefilas HaDerech for everyone to hear, in Hebrew or in English, and ask Hashem for a safe journey?
We are a people of emunah. We are proud to be Jews. And in a time when other nations openly invoke G-d’s protection—even in commercial settings—shouldn’t we, as Jews flying on Israel’s national airline, do the same?
Signed,
D.A.
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8 Responses
Or, we can appreciate all the great things elal has done to accommodate the frum passenger!
Oh come on man who cares?!
It’s a good idea but 1) who says they don’t in private just they don’t want their goyish customers to know that they’re religious
2 who says the pilots are religious?
Well, true that the owner of El Al today is Mr. Rosenberg-an orthodox jew- but the crew and passengers are not. Although many or most of them would have no problem with reciting Tfilas Haderech but the minor lefties will immediately boycott El Al and even file a lawsuit in that disgusting Israeli high court which will of course ban this practice due it to be “Religion Force”. Look how they act when the bochorim of chabad put on tfilion to pass byers in Tel Aviv that agree to put on tfilin “willingly”. No chance. If you desire Tfilas Haderech to be recited on board an aircraft continue travelling with Arab Airlines.
If elal would start reciting tefillas Haderech in hebrew-versus English-then
a)it would Chas VShalom cause a growth of antisemitism from those on the flight listening who are not supporters of Israel and their actually flying in and heading to Gaza after landing.
B)it would be sent big loss to Elal Airlines financially on all the customers that stop using them due to hearing it and not being jew or Israel supporters even though they just heard it on a elal flight and went to visit Israel temporarily.
Dear D A, I understand you might want to be as religious as our Arab cousins and perhaps you were even left with an inferiority complex, but it’s not so simple. First off not all poskim hold to say Tefilas haderech when flying. Secondly, you might get into issues of Kol Isha (according to some) if this were implemented.
Very simple answer
Most or all of the staff on the Israeli planes are very secular and hardly know much about Torah. In fact I met some who never heard of Esther but yet knew about Purim. I find them to be the most secular Israelis of Israel. Sometimes I get into a conversation with them and they bombard me with questions about Yiddishkeit. Maybe we should be mekarev them. Once I bought 16 decorative tehillim key chains as a present for all the staff. They were very moved and I got a chance to explain the beauty of Judaism.
I think they should also say a shehakol when the drink carts roll through the aisles. And maybe borei nefashos after that… Any other important suggestions?